The Premier at Waitara.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 12761, 14 January 1905, Page 3

The Premier at Waitara.

. » LOCAL REQUIREMENTS. Tho Premier, who wjis accompanied by Mrs and Miss Seddon, aud Messrs \\ . T. Jennings and K. 31. Smith. M.'s 11. R., on a visit to Waitara on Friday, was welcomed by ilia residents of that borough and also deputationised in regard to local requirements. The Mayor, Mr Ogle, headed the deputation, and he li ought under the notice of the Minister the necessity of attaching a verandah to tho Waitara railway station in order to afford shelter to passengers and ;o; o goods,. The Premier promised to call the. attention of tho Mimsii/r oi Railways to the mutter. H was complained by "Mr Pearcc that the carriages in use on tuo Waiuira line were in a dilapidated con-cli-lion, and either ictj'uired i\ nova I ing or replacing. Mr Sod-don, in informing Liv; deputation that he would also Wring this complaint to the notice of the Minister of Railways, remarked 'hat I lie Railway Department appeared to consider that in l>is (the Premier's) district any kind of carriage answered tho purpose.. recognising that tho application for new carriages should be granted if funds permitted, tho Premier stated that it wa_s the most important thixig to have the railways constructed to • nable the produce to be sent to a good market. Mr Foreman brought forward the i.ue.r>tion of the impassable condition of a portion of the ,inaiu north rojif between Mimi and Uruti. lie pointed out that six miles of this road hacl recently been hanckd over to tho county by the Roads Department, 'but the Government should metal it. especially as it was a portion oi the main road to Auckland. ft was, in iiis opinion, the duty of the '!o\eminent to hand over roads In good condition. Mr Foreman also referred to the .slate of Junction Road ir the Puranyi district. Tuo years n<>o the settlors had raised a !oc>n of £I^oo for metall ng on the umderstaudino- fimt a sulj-.--idy from tho *lo\ eminent v. as forth-f-oiniug. Junction Road, Air Foroluian pointed out, was ihe -nam road to the interior, and as mic'i a road could not be maintained without departmental assistance, the yubskly [>reviously expected for jn'tailino" and maintenance should now lie j ranted. A special rate of 'id in the C had been carried, in tuldition to a g( ncral rate of lAd. The bridging of the Mol-au M\crv. r as a'so iKl\ocat<-J. but it vw.s ituyd thatthe road metcilliiiL: a.nil maintcnanco should take precedence. The Premier, in replying, said he realised that tin- metalling of the roads was a moyt important matter. As the Minister could only spuid money where Parliament had made an appropriation, he had to see if any appropriation had keen nrade. Tlowi; \er, if the Public Works Minister had anj r money at his disposal ho < the Premier) would recoimmend that the work as requested be dene. But ;f; f there was no money available, the deputation should apply for a vote, next session. The Pretaiief thought ifc should bo laid down as a gomral and wise policy that tho (Jovrmmtnt should form arrd metal main and p'-rmanent roads before handing thorn over to tho local authorities.